Farmland Protection Implementation Grants

Farmland Protection Implementation Grants is sponsored by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. This program provides individual grants to help offset the costs of conservation easement projects that protect viable agricultural land from being converted to non-agricultural use.

Farmland Protection Implementation Grants Program | Agriculture and Markets Farmland Protection Implementation Grants Program Farmland Protection Implementation Grants Program The Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) Program provides financial assistance to counties, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts, and land trusts to enable them to implement farmland protection activities consistent with local agricultural and farmland protection plans, including those created through the Farmland Protection Planning Grants Program.

The most frequently funded activity is the purchase of agricultural conservation easements (PACE) on individual farms. However, FPIG may also award funding to enable other implementation activities, such as amendments to local laws affecting agriculture, option agreements (which lead to PACE), and covering the transaction costs of donated agricultural conservation easements.

FPIG is routinely offered as a statewide grant round in the spring of even-numbered years. On occasion, FPIG may also be offered to address topically specific or otherwise timely farmland protection implementation activities. Eligible applicants for FPIG include counties, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts, and not-for-profit conservation organizations (called “land trusts”).

Joint applications are allowed. Landowners wishing to participate in an FPIG-funded project do not apply to the Department; rather, they should contact one of the eligible entities for more information. Interested farmers or landowners are urged to contact their county Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board to express their interest in participating.

Round 20 - Status of Awards and Applications Received This status will be updated frequently, but on an irregular basis - please be sure to check back often. Status of Awards and Applications Received – Round 20 FPIG-RFA The following guidance documents will assist in the compilation of a grant proposal and all required project deliverables.

Guidance Document: Farmland Protection and Agricultural Districts Guidance Document: Developing a Land Plan for an Agricultural Conservation Easement Guidance Document: Title Commitment and Curatives for Conservation Easements Option 5 SAMPLE Easement Language SAMPLE Easement Language When Owner of Mineral Rights is NOT Identical to Owner of Surface Estate Conservation Easement Certifications: Attorney Pre-Closing Certification Conservation Easement Certifications: Post-Closing Conservation Easement Certification Model Agricultural Conservation Easement This document is only for easement projects awarded a state contribution of 87.

5% of eligible total project costs. FPIG Program Required Easement Provisions This is only for easement projects awarded a state contribution of up to 75% of eligible total project costs, except those awarded 25% of easement purchase price plus all transaction costs.

FPIG Program Required Definition of "Qualified Farmer" for a Preemptive Purchase Right Guidance Document: Appraisals for Conservation Easements Conservation Plan Requirements Beginning in 2023, each application or proposal submitted for funding consideration through the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) program must contain an Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) or Equivalent Landowner Participation Verification Form.

If that application or proposal is awarded, the participating landowner(s) will receive a Notification to All Participating Landowners in Any Agricultural Conservation Easement Project Receiving a Farmland Protection Implementation Grant (FPIG) at the same time that the Department provides award notification to the entity that submitted that application/proposal.

When the awarded entity submits a complete Project File (as required by the contract awarded to that entity) to the Department for review/approval, an additional required document shall also be included: Status of Conservation Plan Certification Form.

Conservation Plans for Projects Receiving FPIG Sequence of Communications Regarding a Conservation Plan Associated with an FPIG-Awarded Agricultural Conservation Easement Project Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) or Equivalent Landowner Participation Verification Form Notification to All Participating Landowners in Any Agricultural Conservation Easement Project Receiving a FPIG Status of Conservation Plan Certification Form Site Plan Review Webinar Resources Site Plans Fully Consistent with Department Land Planning Guidance Site Plans Not Fully Consistent with Department Land Planning Guidance-Common Themes Common Theme: Reconfiguration Necessary Genesee Land Trust - Amsler Farm Common themes: reconfiguration necessary and too many farmstead areas.

Configuration of use area and reconfigure easements or ag units and multiple farmstead areas. Common Theme: Too Many Farmstead Areas Finger Lakes Land Trust - Burns and Jackson Noel Farms - Ag Unit A Common theme - too many farmstead areas. Finger Lakes Land Trust - Burns and Jackson Noel Farms - Ag Unit D Common theme: too many farmstead areas.

Genesee Land Trust - Amsler Farm Common themes: reconfiguration necessary and too many farmstead areas. Configuration of use area and reconfigure easements or ag units and multiple farmstead areas. Common Theme: Unacceptable Exclusions Genessee Land Trust - De Meyer Farms Common theme: unacceptable exclusions.

Each exclusion requires mitigation. Genesee Land Trus - Reedland Farm Common theme: unacceptable exclusions. Unbuffered exclusion requires mitigation and potential unreasonable restrictions due to cell tower lease.

Genesee Valley Conservancy - Craig Rice Farm CE-1 Common theme: unacceptable exclusions. Unbuffered exclusions require mitigation and REA must be enlarged. Genesee Valley Conservancy - Hill Crest Farm - Ag Unit D Common theme: unacceptable exclusions.

Unbuffered exclusions require mitigation. Onondaga County - Leubner Farm Common theme: unacceptable exclusions. Unbuffered exclusions require mitigation and insufficient number of building envelopes.

Onondaga County - Oliver Farm Common theme: unacceptable exclusions. Unbuffered exclusions require mitigation. Onondaga County - Snavlin Farm Common theme: unacceptable exclusions.

Insufficiently buffered exclusion requires mitigation. Common Theme: Unnecessary Acreage Genesee Valley Conservancy - Craig Rice Farm - CE-3 Common theme: unnecessary acreage. Genesee Valley Conservancy - Craig Rice Farm - CE-4 Common theme: unnecessary acreage.

Onondaga County - Manley Farm - Ag Unit 2 Common theme: unnecessary acreage. Opportunities to Integrate With the Source Water Buffer Program Source Water Buffer Program overview Round 18 - Status of Awards and Received Applications Commissioner Memo - Status of Awards and Applications Received - Round 18 Status of Awards and Applications Received - Round 18 Scroll back to the top of the page Department of Agriculture and Markets